Pilgrims - Telling Youth... The Truth (1962-67)

Rock; Christianity; guitars; church... in the 21st century these words don't seem odd together. But, in 1961 rock meant "devil music" and church meant "boring". The Pilgrims changed all that. Raise among the world-war bombsites of southeast London, the five "Pilgrims" were part of the first generation to be called "teenagers". The swinging sixties had started and it was not cool to be Christian. These full-blooded teenagers with a love for rock music became christians but opted not to conform. They put faith and rock together and changed christian music for good. The Pilgrims were the first wholly electric Christian rock group and shocked the churches of their day. Later bands broke through into mainstream recording, radio and TV, but The Pilgrims were breaking traditions and taboos. After playing at a church service attended by Princess Margaret the group were condemned on national radio by a Countess (no less!). But The Pilgrims didn't want upper class approval; they spoke to their own generation in a language they understood. The group played in churches, to be sure, but their favourite audiences were in beat clubs and dives where nobody was pretending to be holy. When you listen to The Pilgrims you can sense the rawness and enthusiasm of a newfound faith; nut the music is polished and professional. They put heart and soul into their playing and wanted to be the best. At a 1966 concert in a 2,500-seat auditorium opposite Westminster Abbey they were feted as "not only the best, but also the LOUDEST Christian group". [..]
taken from the liner notes

The Pilgrims have all my sympathy. Except for the lyrics you would'nt believe that they came from the Christian environment. The music leans towards early UK R&B/Beat but with a sound that is closer to american garage bands. Not every track on this CD (LRL 001 / 2004) is a winner but songs like "Hey You", "Thank You Lord" or "There's Something In Your Life" will satisfy every garage-head and lovers of raw and wild Beat. On this occasion I would like to recommend you the highly enjoyable UK Xian Beat compilation on the excellent Roots And Traces: Spurensicherung blogspot.

Tracklist:
- Hey You!
- Thank You Lord
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 2
- There's Someone In Your Life
- I Didn't Care
- Think It Over • Version 2
- Wait And See
- Do You Believe In God?
- Heard It All Before
- Any Time Of The Day
- Who's Your Lord?
- I Know I'm Going To Heaven
- He Wants You
- I Don't Need You
- What Are You Doing With Your Life?
- Think Of God's Love
- I Praise The Lord
- Don't You Think It's Time
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 1
- I Found A Special Friend
- Think It Over • Version 1

Personnel:
Derrick Phillips (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Don Sanders (lead gtr, bs) [ABCD]
Ian Wilkie (drms, vcls) [ABCD]
John Hubbard (bs, vcls) [AB]
Chris King (vcls) [A]
Tony Goodman (vcls, lead gtr, hrmnca) [BCD]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
45's:
1. Heaven's The Place For Me/Think Of God's Love
   (Herald 2416) 1964

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to There's Someone In Your Life

Mike & The Ravens - Nevermore (1958-2004)

Anytime you get a chance to tap into someone else's maniacal collection of anything - pinball machines, barbwire samples or, in this case, original garage-rock music, you're in for a treat. This 2-CD set (Bacchus Archives BA 11102 / 2005) chronicles the recordings of Michael Brassard and Stephen Blodgett as they worked their way through a number of East Coast '60 and '70s rock bands. The set opens with Brassard's 1958 debut on WDEV radio, playing and whistling his acoustic original "Rovin' and then proceeds through a full disc of early-60s frat-stompers, garage rock, doo-wop rooted ballads, surf-tinged guitar, and oddball studio freak-outs, all punctuated by bits of contemporaneous radio continuity. Unlike many garage rock comps, this isn't the sound of '65, it's the sound of '62. The British Invasion had yet to happen, and some of the country's rawest music was emanating from corners like Vermont. Michael Brassard, both before and with the Ravens, was apparently quite a sponge for musical styles, equally at home with twangy guitar rockers as with talking folk-blues. Using Plattsburgh, New York's Rollerland as a studio (where The Ravens waxed the skatetastic "Moonlight Couples Only"), Brassard and friends had the freedom to try just about anything that came to mind. The Ravens were a solid garage rock band in the Pacific Northwest vein, and Brassard and Blodgett wrote many catchy original songs. The second disc in this set moves from the garages of 1962 to the trippy sunshine pop of 1967. It's difficult to connect the two discs, as the second set's harmonies, string orchestrations, and psychedelic lyrics (e.g, "I Could Hear the Grass Growing") are more akin to the works of Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher than The Kingsmen styled work of Mike & The Ravens. Variously credited to Fire & Brimstone, The Camel's Hump, The Front Burner and others, the common thread is again Michael Brassard and his former Raven bandmate Stephen Blodgett, and like their earlier garage rock, they wrote many memorable original tunes. A more concise sampling of The Ravens finished garage rock sides can be found on Bacchus' companion single-disc volume, "Heart So Cold: The North Country '60s Scene." This 2-CD collection provides a view of the underlying studio catalog from which the commercially released sides were sprung. The evolution of Brassard and Blodgett, and their second wind of '60s psychedelia is all worth hearing. Disc two finishes out with pop, folk and country sides waxed from the '70s through 2004, showing the flame still burning. Sound quality on disc 1 is highly variable; disc 2 is more consistent mid-to-hi-fi. Both discs include generous helpings of previously unreleased works.
(review by Red Tunic Troll)

You can also check their website for further information.

Tracklist:
[CD1]
- Rovin' • by Mike Brassard (1958)
- Dum Duvey • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Git Home • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Two-Ton Jenny • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Mr. Heartbreak
- I've Taken All I Can
- Pete's Turkish Delight • by Peter Young & Brian Lyford
- Ballad of a Square • by Mike Brassard (1962)
- (Everybody's Goin' To) Rollerland
- Moonlight Couples Only
- No Man's Land
- Baby, Please Don't Leave Me • alternate take
- Biggest Fool Around
- One of These Days
- Like a Fire
- Can't You Feel the Pain • by The Ravens
- Riptide • by The Ravens
- I'll Get It from You • by The Ravens
- Goodbye to Mary Jane
- Living in a Dream • alternate take
- Oobie Doobie Do (Shake That Thing)

[CD2]
- Grey Eyes Watching • by Stephen Sargent & The Pride
  (1967)
- Underground • by Fire & Brimstone (1967)
- I Could Hear the Grass Growin' • by Fire & Brimstone
  (1967)
- Look • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Gotta Talk to You, Baby • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Birmingham • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Greyhound Bus • by Stephen Blodgett (1968)
- Tomorrow • by Mike Brassard & Bo Blodgett (1968)
- Lights of San Francisco • by The Front Burner (1971)
- Eldorado • by The Front Burner (1971)
- Gentle Wind • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Georgia Plains • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Truly (Christ's Lament) • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Lady • by Mike Brassard (1982)
- No More Beatle Songs • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Motorboatin' • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Adorable Gene • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Motivatin' Blues • by Mike Brassard (2004)
- No Love to Give You
- Durham
- Teen Angel • by Stephen Blodgett & Bill Kinzie (1977)

Personnel [Mike & The Ravens]:
Mike Brassard (lead vcls) [ABC]
John "Bo" Blodgett (lead gtr) [AB]
Stephen Blodgett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB]
Eddie Jones (bs) [A]
Peter Young (drms) [AB]
Brian Lyford (bs) [B]
Bobby Lavigne (lead gtr) [C]
Jim Ricker (bs) [C]
Marc Chapman (drms) [C]

Band origin:
Northfield (Vermont/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Mr. Heartbreak/I've Taken All I Can (Empire E-1) 1962
2. Baby, Please Don't Leave Me/Biggest Fool Around
   (Empire E-2) 1962
3. Goodbye To Mary Jane/Living In A Dream
   (Empire E-3) 1963

---

Personnel incl. [Stephen Sargent & The Pride]:
Stephen Blodgett (gtr, vcls)
Chris Kiley (vcls)

Band origin:
Burlington (Vermont/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Grey Eyes Watching/Nobody's Child
   (Compass CO-7001) 1967

---

Personnel incl. [Fire & Brimstone]:
Mike Brassard (vcls)
Stephen Blodgett (gtr)

Band origin:
New York City (New York/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Underground/I Could Hear The Grass Growin'
   (Decca 32297) 1967

---

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Mike & The Ravens: I've Taken All I Can

Listen to Fire & Brimstone: Underground

Dearly Beloved - Rough Diamonds (1963-67)

Forming in 1963 as The Intruders and later known as The Quinstrells they became known as The Dearly Beloved in late '65 and were Tucson's most popular '60s band. Shortly after their name change Dan Gates, a DJ from a local radio station KTKT came along with the tape of a song called Peep Peep Pop Pop. The group were not at all keen at first but eventually he persuaded them to record it at the Audio Sound Recorders Studio in Phoenix and a record deal was negotiated with the New Mexico-based Boyd label. They got the band's name wrong on the label and the 45 was released in 1966 and credited to The Beloved Ones. It was a No. 1 hit in Tucson that year and held the No. 1 position for many weeks on KTKT radio. Consequent upon its success the 45 was leased to Columbia, who at least got the band's name right. With national distribution the 45 almost made Billboard's Top 100. Fuelled by their success the band headed to LA to record an album for Columbia. They recorded twenty songs in all in just three half day sessions! These sessions spawned their next 45. Tom Walker wrote the 'A' side, the flip was the work of The Grodes' leader Manny Freiser. The posthumous Voxx compilation includes some tracks from this session, but Columbia didn't promote the band or release the LP. Around this time Pete Schuyler left the band and was replaced on drums by Rick Mellinger from The Grodes. On a further trip to LA the band were spotted playing with The Leaves by a White Whale rep. and this led to them signing a new record contract (having sued Columbia to get out of their previous one). Larry Cox had to return to Tucson the next day to get married so they left LA at 3 a.m. taking turns with the driving. Eventually they all fell asleep including the driver. Inevitably they crashed and Larry Cox was killed instantly. The rest of the band sustained injuries. To make matters worse Larry's death negated their White Whale contract because it contained a clause stating that the band would have to stay intact. The band tried to keep going but never successfully replaced Larry. The 'A' side of their final 45 was a haunting song written by Larry about death ironically shortly before his own tragic demise. The flip, a punker with a ripping bass line, was a regional hit. Vocalist Jim Perry sang on the 'A' side and Terry Lee took the vocal role on the flip. Arguably this 45 was their finest moment. The Voxx compilation (Voxx 200.018 / 1984) is an excellent guide to their career with full liner notes by Lee Joseph which have been summarised here. It contains all the band's better 45s and some of their unreleased recordings for Columbia.
(taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")

Known for their great acid-punker "Flight 13" this great band is heartly recommended to all garage fans.

Tracklist:
- Every Time It's You • as The Intruders
- Why Me • as The Intruders
- Keep It Moving
- Bonus Track (KTKT Promo 1965)
- Peep Peep Pop Pop
- You Ain't Gonna Do What You Did To Him To Me
- Wait Till The Mornin'
- Iceman (Wild About My Loving)
- Music Revolution
- Strange Feeling
- Take It Easy
- It's All Over
- I've Got A Girl [alt. take] • as The Quinstrells
- I'm Not Coming Back
- Merry Go Round
- Flight 13

Personnel [Dearly Beloved]:
Larry Cox (vcls) [AB]
Tom Walker (gtr, vcls [ABC]
Terry Lee (gtr, vcls [ABC]
Shep Cooke (bs) [ABC]
Pete Schuyler (drms) [A]
Rick Mellinger (drms) [BC]
{Jim Perry (vcls on "Merry Go Round") [C]}
Val Valinto (bs)
Tom Riply (vcls)
Lenny Lopes (drms)

Band origin:
Tucson (Arizona/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. (A) Peep Peep Pop Pop/It Is Better (Boyd 157) 1966
2. (A) Peep Peep Pop Pop/It Is Better
   (Columbia 4-43797) 1966
3. (A) Wait Till The Mornin'/You Ain't Gonna Do
   What You Did With Him To Me (Columbia 4-43959) 1966
4. (C) Merry Go Round/Flight Thirteen
   (Splitsound SSDG-5) 1967

[1. as The Beloved Ones]

---

Personnel [The Intruders/The Quinstrells]:
Larry Cox (vcls)
Tom Walker (gtr, vcls)
Terry Lee (gtr, vcls)
Shep Cooke (bs)
Pete Schuyler (drms)

Band origin:
Tucson (Arizona/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Every Time It's You/Let Me Stay (Gallant no#) 1963
2. Then I'd Know/My Name (Moxie MRC 101) 1964
3. Now She's Gone/Why Me? (Moxie MRC 104) 1964
4. I Got A Girl/Tell Her (Moxie MRC 105) 1965

[1.-3. as The Intruders]
[4. as The Quinstrells]

---

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to The Quinstrells - I've Got A Girl

Listen to Dearly Beloved - Flight 13

Rockin' Ramrods - The Best Of The Rockin' Ramrods (1963-71)

This Boston band made nine 45's in total (two singles were released under the monicker GTO's). Their music was pretty much in the beat vein like the early Beatles. This CD (Big Beat CDWIKD 151 / 1995) contains most of their 7-inches, some unreleased material and adds the best songs of their soft-psychedelic album they have made as Puff in 1968. Too bad that their most garage song "She Lied" was not represented here (you can find the track on Pebbles Vol. 8).

Tracklist:
- Jungle Call
- I Wanna Be Your Man
- I'll Be On My Way
- Don't Fool With Fu Manchu • as The GTO's
- Tears Melt The Stones • as The GTO's
- Play It!
- Bright Lit Blue Skies
- Mr. Wind
- Can't You See
- Mary Mary
- Flowers In My Mind

[as Puff / (1968)]
- Vacuum
- Trees
- Rainy Day
- Looking In My Window
- Who Do You Think You Are?
- Of Not Being Able To Sleep
- Dead Thoughts Of Alfred
- I Sure Need You
- When I Wake Up In The Morning
- Go With You
- Changes

[previously unreleased / (1971)]
- My Vision Has Cleared
- I Don't Want To I Will
- Troubles

Personnel:
[Rockin' Ramrods]
Bill Linnane (lead gtr) [A]
Vin Campisi (rhythm gtr) [ABCD]
Ronn Campisi (bs) [ABCD]
Bob Henderson (drms, perc) [ABCD]
Scott Curtis (keyb'ds) [B]
Lenny Carelli (lead gtr ) [C]
Glenn Jordan (gtr, keyb'ds) [D]
Danny McBride (gtr, keyb'ds) [D]
Stu Kassner (drms) [D]

Discographie:
45's:
1. Jungle Call/Indian Giver (Explosive F 101/2) 1963
2. She Lied/The Girl Can't Help It (Bon-Bon 1315) 1964
3. I Wanna Be Your Man/I'll Be On My Way
   (Plymouth 2961/2) 1964
4. Wild About You/Cry In My Room (Southern Sound 205) 1965
5. Don't Fool With Fu Manchu/Tears Melt The Stones
   (Claridge 301) 1965
6. She Rides With Me/Rudy Vadoo (Claridge 312) 1966
7. Play It/Got My Mojo Working (Claridge 317) 1966
8. Bright Lit Blue Skies/Mr. Wind (Plymouth 2963/4) 1966
9. Flowers In My Mind/Mary, Mary (Plymouth 2965/6) 1966

[5. + 6. as The GTO's]

Personnel:
[Puff]
Vin Campisi (lead gtr)
David-Allen Ryan (bs, vcls)
Jim Mandell (piano, organ, flute, vcls)
Bob Henderson (drms, vcls)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Puff (MGM SE-4622) 1968

45's:
1. Looking In My Window/Rainy Day (MGM 14040) 1968

Band origin:
Boston (Massachusetts/US)

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Bright Lit Blue Skies

Listen to Vacuum

Bobby Vee - Come Back When You Grow Up (1967) [+ Meets The Ventures - 1963]

Most of you will know Bobby Vee (born as Robert Thomas Velline 1943 in Fargo/North Dakota) as a Buddy Holly wannabe but on "Come Back When You Grow Up" he went new ways. This record is a fine amalgalm of pop/sunshine/soft rock often heavily orchestrated. I'm sure that Curt Boettcher/Mystic Males ect. lovers will find a lot here. And the great "Get The Message" was also recorded by Sagittarius (although it remained unreleased by them). This CD (Collectables COL-CO-2776 / 2000) contains also earlier material from 1963, released back then as "Bobby Vee Meets The Ventures". A good record as well but more in a beat-rockin' vein.

Tracklist:
[Come Back When You Grow Up / 1967]
- Come Back When You Grow Up
- A Rose Grew In The Ashes
- You're A Big Girl Now
- You Can Count On Me
- Get The Message
- Hold On To Him
- World Down On Your Knees
- Objects Of Gold
- Before You Go
- Mission Accomplished
- I May Be Back
- Double Good Feeling

[Bobby Vee Meets The Ventures / 1963]
- Goodnight Irene
- Walk Right Back
- Linda Lu
- Caravan
- What Else Is New
- Candy Man
- This Is Where Friendship Ends
- Honeycomb
- Pretty Girls Everywhere
- Wild Night
- I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
- If I'm Right Or Wrong

[Bonus Tracks]
- Do I Really
- The Opposite

Personnel incl.:
Bobby Vee [real name Robert Thomas Velline] (vcls)

Origin:
born 1943 in Fargo (North Dakota/US)

Discographie [US releases only]:
Albums:
 1. Bobby Vee (Liberty LRP 3165) 1960
 2. Sing Your Favourites (Liberty LST 7165) 1960
 3. Devil Or Angel (Liberty LST 7181) 1960
 4. With Strings And Things (Liberty LST 7186) 1960
 5. Hits Of The 50's (Liberty LST 7205) 1960
 6. Take Good Care Of My Baby (Liberty LST 7211) 1961
 7. Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets (Liberty LST 7228) 1962
 8. Recording Session (Liberty LST 7232) 1962
 9. Golden Greats (Liberty LST 7245) 1962
10. Night Has A Thousand Eyes (Liberty LST 7285) 1963
11. Merry Christmas (Liberty LRP 3267) 1962
12. Bobby Vee Meets The Ventures (Liberty LST 7289) 1963
13. I Remember Buddy Holly (Liberty LST 7336) 1963
14. Sing New Sound From England (Liberty LST 7352) 1964
15. Live on Tour (Liberty LST 7393) 1965
16. Golden Greats Vol. II (Liberty LST 7464) 1966
17. Look At Me Girl (Liberty LST 7480) 1966
18. Come Back When You Grow Up (Liberty LST 7534) 1967
19. Maybe Just Today (Liberty LST 7554) 1968
20. Do What You Gotta Do (Liberty LST 7592) 1968
21. Grit Grills And Railings (Liberty LST 7612) 1969
22. Nothing Like A Sunny Day (United Artists 5656) 1972

45's:
 1. Suzie Baby/Flyin' High (Liberty 55208) 1959
 2. What Do You Want/My Love Loves Me (Liberty 55234) 1959
 3. One Last Kiss/Laurie (Liberty 55251) 1960
 4. Devil Or Angel/Since I Met You Baby
    (Liberty 55270) 1960
 5. Rubber Ball/Everyday (Liberty 55287) 1960
 6. More Than I Can Say/Stayin' In (Liberty 55296) 1961
 7. How Many Tears/Baby Face (Liberty 55325) 1961
 8. How Many Tears/Bashful Bob (Liberty 55331) 1961
 9. Take Good Care Of My Baby/Bashful Bob
    (Liberty 55354) 1961
10. Run To Him/Walkin' With My Angel (Liberty 55388) 1961
11. I Can't Say Goodbye/Please Don't Ask About Barbara
    (Liberty 55419) 1962
12. Sharing You/In My Baby's Eyes (Liberty 55451) 1962
13. Punish Her/Someday (When I'm Gone Frome You)
    (Liberty 55479) 1962
14. Christmas Vacation/A Not So Merry Christmas
    (Liberty 55517) 1962
15. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes/Anonymous Phone Call
    (Liberty 55521) 1962
16. Bobby Tomorrow/Charms (Liberty 55530) 1963
17. Be True To Yourself/A Letter From Betty
    (Liberty 55581) 1963
18. Yesterday And You/Never Love A Robin
    (Liberty 55636) 1963
19. Stranger In Your Arms/1963 (Liberty 55654) 1963
20. I'll Make You Mine/She's Sorry (Liberty 55670) 1964
21. Dick Hickory And Doc/I Wish You Were Mine Again
    (Liberty 55700) 1964
22. Where Is She/How To Make A Farewell
    (Liberty 55726) 1964
23. Every Little Bit Hurts/Pretend You Don't See Her
    (Liberty 55751) 1964
24. Cross My Heart/This Is The End (Liberty 55761) 1965
25. Keep On Trying/You Won't Forget Me
    (Liberty 55790) 1965
26. Run With The Devil/Take A Look Around Me
    (Liberty 55828) 1965
27. The Story Of My Life/High Coin (Liberty 55843) 1965
28. A Girl I Used To Know/Gone (Liberty 55854) 1965
29. Look At Me, Girl/Butterfly/Save A Love
    (Liberty 55877) 1966
30. Before You Go/Here Today (Liberty 55921) 1966
31. Come Back When You Grow Up/Swahili Serenade
    (Liberty 55964) 1967
32. Growing Pains/That's All There Is To That/
    Come Back When You Grow Up (Liberty 55982) 1967
33. Beautiful People/I May Be Back (Liberty 56009) 1967
34. Maybe Just Today/You're A Big Girl Now
    (Liberty 56014) 1968
35. My Girl/Hey, Girl/Just Keep It Up (Liberty 56033) 1968
36. Do What You Gotta Do/Thank You (Liberty 56057) 1968
37. Someone To Love Me/Thank You (Liberty 56080) 1968
38. Jenny, Come To Me/Santa Cruz (Liberty 56096) 1969
39. Let's Call It A Day, Girl/I'm Gonna Make It Up To You
    (Liberty 56124) 1969
40. Electric Trains And You/In And Out Of Love
    (Liberty 56149) 1969
41. No Obligations/Woman In My Life (Liberty 56178) 1970
42. Sweet Sweetheart/Rock And Roll Music Of You
    (Liberty 56208) 1970
43. Signs/Something To Say (United Artists 50755) 1971
44. Don't Matter To Me/I'm Doing Time (GSF 6913) 1973
45. Saying Goodby/(I'm) Lovin' You (Shady Brook 013) 1975
46. You're Never Gonna Find Someone Like Me/?
    (Shady Brook 026) 1976
47. It's Good To Be Here/If I Needed You
    (Shady Brook 030) 1976

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Get The Message

Listen to This Is Where Friendship Ends